This service is managed by Planning and Regulatory Services
Advice for businesses
We provide a range of services to help businesses in Orkney comply with consumer and trading legislation. We are happy to give advice to new and existing businesses, and we work with traders to help them understand and meet their legal obligations.
Services we offer to businesses
We can help with advice for new or existing businesses on consumer and trading legislation, testing and calibration of weighing and measuring equipment and hire of test weights, registration and approval of businesses involved with animal feed, and certification and licensing for the storage of petrol and explosives.
For further guidance, Trading Standards Scotland provides a wide range of resources for businesses.
How we enforce trading standards legislation
Inspections - we carry out periodic inspections of all trade premises in Orkney to check compliance with legislation covering areas such as weights and measures, the accuracy of pricing, the safety of goods and services, underage sales, trade descriptions and animal feedstuffs. We advise traders on how to comply with the law where needed.
Testing - we carry out test purchases and product sampling to verify authenticity, safety and conformity with description. Testing may also be carried out in response to a consumer complaint. Products are usually sent for analysis to the Analytical and Scientific Services laboratory at Edinburgh City Council, or, in the case of suspected counterfeit goods, to the brand manufacturer.
Enforcement - we have statutory duties to enforce around 30 Acts of Parliament and several hundred associated statutory instruments. We are committed to working with traders to achieve compliance, but in rare cases we may need to report a matter to the Procurator Fiscal, who will decide whether to pursue a prosecution based on the evidence, seriousness of the breach, and whether it is in the public interest. We are empowered by law to seize goods and documents where there is reason to believe an offence has been committed.
Related resources
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Application with a view to Registration or Approval under the EC Feed Hygiene Regulation
This document contains an application form for registering or approving feed businesses and premises with Orkney Islands Council under the Feed Hygiene Regulation. It asks for business, premises, applicant and existing registration details, plus a signature and date. The guidance lists activities needing registration, including feed manufacture, sale, transport, storage and farm mixing, and activities needing approval, such as producing nutritional, zootechnical, antioxidant and colourant additives. It also notes some farms and food businesses may already be covered by other official schemes.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
Product safety recalls
For information on recent product safety recalls, visit the Trading Standards Institute website.
Related resources
Contact us
Trading standards
Council Offices, School Place, Kirkwall, KW15 1NY